Notable contributions in skin health
Distinguished dermatologists will deliver Fox and Kelly lectureships.
N001 – Celebrating Excellence: A Duo of Distinguished Talks
9–10 a.m. | Friday, July 11
Grand Ballroom D
Two renowned dermatologists will honor the legacies of their predecessors at the 2025 AAD Innovation Academy session, N001 – Celebrating Excellence: A Duo of Distinguished Talks.
Distinguished for their own contributions in skin health, Robert S. Kirsner, MD, PhD, FAAD, will deliver the Everett C. Fox, MD, Memorial Lecture, and Valerie D. Callender, MD, FAAD, will give the A. Paul Kelly, MD, Research Award and Lectureship. This special event will honor the physicians’ remarkable achievements with prestigious awards that reflect their dedication, innovation, and profound impact on dermatology.
Dr. Kirsner is the endowed Harvey Blank Chair and tenured professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida. His talk, “Leveraging the Power of Skin: From Skin Grafting to Skin Substitutes,” will explore the development and use of skin grafts and skin substitutes in acute and chronic wound healing. Dr. Kirsner said advancements in these subjects over the past 50 years have led to both opportunities and challenges.
Dr. Callender, a professor of dermatology at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., will present “How Inclusion Drives Innovation: Redefining Clinical Trials for Excellence in Dermatology.” Her lecture will discuss the gaps in clinical trial designs, the need to reassess population descriptions in dermatology studies, and the importance of inclusivity in medical research — all of which can produce better patient outcomes. The Kelly Award, established in 2021, recognizes dermatologists who have dedicated their career to research and advancements that improve care of patients with skin of color.
The session will be led by George W. Elgart, MD, FAAD, who is also a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
